Critical 9.8Published Oct 13, 2026

CVE-2026-53709MCP Context Forge: Hardcoded default JWT_SECRET_KEY shipped in source and .env.example enables pre-authentication platform admin token forgery

Updated under an hour ago (2026-10-19 06:50 UTC)

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It affects IBM mcp-context-forge. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.

EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.45%, higher than 38% of scored CVEs.

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Exploited in the last 30 days

MCP Context Forge is an MCP gateway and administrative platform. Prior to 1.0.2, mcpgateway/config.py and .env.example ship a known JWT_SECRET_KEY, while verify_jwt_token() accepts HS256 tokens signed with that key and get_current_user() creates a platform administrator when the token subject matches PLATFORM_ADMIN_EMAIL and REQUIRE_USER_IN_DB is false. A remote unauthenticated attacker can therefore mint accepted administrator tokens without a database account. While the vulnerable signing key remains configured and the platform-admin bootstrap remains enabled, forged access survives password rotation, account deletion, and session revocation, allowing administrative disclosure, modification, and service disruption. This issue is fixed in version 1.0.2.

CVSS: 9.8 CRITICAL (v3.1, CNA)CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE): CWE-287, CWE-321, CWE-798, CWE-1188
Known exploited: Not in CISA's KEV catalog
EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days): 0.45% (percentile 38)
Assigned by: GitHub_M
NVD analysis: Deferred
Record last updated: Oct 16, 2026
First seen by InfoSec Signals: Oct 13, 2026

Affected products

Affected products

IBM mcp-context-forge ibm:mcp_context_forge (from the name)	before 1.0.2	CNA record

References

https://github.com/IBM/mcp-context-forge/security/advisories/GHSA-m8rv-5m6m-32ffx-refsource-confirm
https://github.com/IBM/mcp-context-forge/commit/2af690f894b6e35f5f21190fdab1505f023a5272x-refsource-misc
https://github.com/IBM/mcp-context-forge/releases/tag/v1.0.2x-refsource-misc

The CVE record on cve.org NVD's entry

The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.